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Gang of Four arrested by The Ovi TeamOctober 11th 1976; the new chairman of China\'s Communist Party, Hua Guofeng, ordered the arrest of four leading radicals in Peking. A sign that China is changing political direction following the death last month of Chairman Mao Zedong. The so

Deng Xiaoping dead by The Ovi TeamFebruary 19th 1997; China\'s paramount leader Deng Xiaoping died at the age of 92. He had been suffering from failing health for several years and was last seen in public three years ago. The country\'s official news agency said his death was t

Can Shame become the next major Tool to change public behavior? by Prof. Michael R. CzinkotaBeijing, the Chinese capital, has, for decades, been infamous for its heavy smog. Since 2014, the government has focused on improving the air quality. Smog related investments amount to $130 billion in support of policies designed to move away

M&M by Valerie SartorBakhtin was right: Nothing sits separate. All major ideas and social forces in our vast human history are connected to something earlier, something analogous, something in the past. No break exists between the past and the present. We just thin

Money Oriented Happiness In China by Lily Jade Talking of China, most people must be thinking about The Great Wall, low cost Made-in-China goods, and the fast growing economics in the past 30 years. Well, let’s leave those behind and have a look at of modern Chinese people's life.

Social issues and society by Vieno VehkoChina has undergone many social shifts over the centuries. As in many other societies, social status in China has corresponded to the way political and economic resources are distributed. However, with the advent of the Communist Party, occupation

Spirits and Exams by Valerie Sartor“Chinese mythology has many gods and spirits. One of the most enduring and popular of these gods is called Ho-Poor Ho-Shen, the Spirit of the River. Chinese ancients perceived him as a greedy god, because he often took a fancy to morta

Concerns by Vieno VehkoI have been coming to China since 2000. From 2005-2008 I lived and worked in north China; two years in XX, my current residence, and one year in Beijing. Since I came back to China in late August, I have seen and experienced many things that have

Chinese Cinderella by Valerie SartorSome of the world’s greatest inventions, ideas and concepts originated from China. Very few Westerners know, however that a beloved fairy tale - Cinderella – has been traced by scholars to the Zhuang people, a minority group that has l

The Chinese warnings over Peace Nobel Prize by Thanos KalamidasThe Chinese government warned all the countries usually participating at the award ceremony that their participation will be noticed and there will be consequences. The Chinese vice-foreign minister Cui Tiankai went one step further saying that th

A Chinese letter we missed by Thanos KalamidasIt is natural that the Chilean miners monopolized the news the last few days touching the hearts and the minds of the people all around the world. However there was other news that we really missed and to my opinion one of them was something drama

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder by Valerie SartorI was just home in the US on a short vacation. I stood in line at my favorite grocery store and was somewhat startled when the pretty, young female cashier grinned at me. Both of her ears were pierced, adorned with big, black button like things; h

The death sentence by Thanos KalamidasI recently read the announcement of the Chinese officials that they are going to punish the ones responsible for the Uighur riots, threatening them with the death sentence. A couple of days later, I watched a documentary about the Sharia law. The

Zen Buddhism or "A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body" by Dr. Emanuel PaparellaWithin Buddhism there is a meditative, contemplative school known as Zen. It originally arose in China but the three philosophers who were mostly responsible in transforming the school into a tradition were from outside China: Bodhidharma from Ind

Caption This! June 2009 by The Ovi TeamTo mark the 20th anniversary of this iconic photograph and courageous non-violent protest, we invite you to write a caption/speech bubble/thought bubble or anything else that captures your imagination.

The Art of Guanxi, Final Chapter: On Guanxi Going Global by Valerie Sartor Chinese people are no strangers to the concept of networks and networking. For thousands of years, Confucian ethics have promoted strong bonds of loyalty, affection and obligation between people. The terms renqing (literally,

The Art of Guanxi, Part V: The Graceful and the Seedy by Valerie Sartor Guanxi is not universally distributed across Chinese society. Different types of people, different social classes and even different genders employ guanxi uniquely. Nevertheless, guanxi tactics are prevalent and common in ever

The Chinese debate by Thanos KalamidasAmazingly, within just a couple of days of one another, we have two …interesting - that’s the best word I could come with - announcements from or regarding China. The first one came from the Chinese parliament chief Wu Bangguo who emph

Just Four Years to Go by Clint WayneAs the immensely encapsulating Beijing Olympics draw to a close there is a real sense of anticipation and feelgood factor presently sweeping Great Britain as the 2012 London Games become a step nearer. This current excitement

The Olympic opening ceremony and the parade by Thanos KalamidasSo, did you watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games? Did you see all the fireworks and the dancers? What about the gigantic globe? Did you see the athletes from all around the world parading? I didn’t! What I’m describi

Beijing, the end of the Olympic spirit by Thanos KalamidasThe clock in the centre of Beijing counts down the last hours before the beginning of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese president Hu Jintao has appealed to the international media not to "politicize" the Beijing Games and, for the firs

On Being Mystical and Mad in Mongolia by Valerie SartorOn June 26 at 7:30 PM Mr. James Palmer, a youthful but quite knowledgeable historian, gave a talk at The Beijing Bookworm about his first and already highly acclaimed book: The Bloody White Baron. Mr. Palmer is a curi

La Vie Sucre: Beijing's Top Pastry Chef by Valerie SartorPhillipe Ancelet sat down in a booth at his East Lake shop and grumbled good-naturedly: “I’m past my prime”. He raised his huge shoulders and gave an abashed shrug. Clearly he wasn’t the coy type – yet at 52 this robu

Beijing Bedouins by Valerie Sartor Modern technological gadgets: young people love them and older people are trying to get used to them. For my grandmother cars represented the height in mobility; for me watching television and later riding in a Bo

Our Furry Friends in Beijing by Valerie SartorIf you come to Beijing most tourists and ex-pats will take one long upward look at the towering buildings, scurry out of the way of European Audis and ogle all those stylish women clip clopping along on designer heels. Foreigners think: “Gee

The Big Three in Asia by Valerie SartorBill Emmott, a slight, dignified middle-aged man with a tonsured head and dark mien, is a career journalist. He’s also the former chief editor of The Economist, a unique, thriving British weekly magazine that publishes astute but un

Future prosperity for all? by Valerie SartorToday China must seriously address the impact of continued economic development upon the environment at large. The country's increasingly successful economic growth has unfortunately created constantly escalating harmful effects upon China

Murphy's Law by Valerie SartorWith her fair skin, rosy cheeks and silky, straw colored hair Ann Murphy embodies a true Irish rose. But don’t be fooled by her delicate beauty: behind those baby blues is a sharp wit that has been honed by decades of hard intellectual work.

Green World, Many Dreams by Vieno VehkoA little Chinese history: on September 12, 1979, Zhang Changlin was working in a local chemical factory in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. He accidentally forgot to shut off a flow valve before leaving work; consequently, 150 tons of wastewater, 30 perc

Castles in the Air by Valerie SartorAs of May 1, 2008 stricter anti-smoking regulations went into effect around Beijing in accordance with international treaties that guarantee a smoke-free Olympics. Earlier, in 1995 and 1996 the People's Congress established the first set of la

Beijing's Bookworm by Valerie Sartor “I’ve been in Beijing over fifteen years, actually I came here to study music at the Central Conservatory of Music but I think of myself as only an amateur musician,” Alexandra “Alex”

The gangsters of Myanmar by Thanos KalamidasWhat happens this minute in Burma is heartbreaking and the only way to put the way I feel is that I’m really angry. I’m really angry with the international community that has failed to stop once more a crime against humanity. I’m

Born to be Wild by Valerie Sartor"Women often ask if they can tag along on my expeditions but I usually have a good excuse to put them off," John Hare said, eyes twinkling, "In this case, because were again traipsing across the Lop Nur Desert, a former Chinese nucl

Economic Euphoria or Inferno? by Valerie SartorChina's progress into the international economic community has not been simple or linear despite the fact that Chinese businesses are currently enjoying enormous economic success. The western world has been hurt job wise b

The Un-peaceful Pacific by Vieno VehkoToday China is more than a defensive, easily offended, blustering nation: the PRC is a superpower with economic clout, nuclear weapons, an independent space program and currently the chary host to the 2008 Olympic Games. But clearly in the global

A Must Read: China Shakes the World by Valerie SartorOn 26 October 2006 James Kynge won the prestigious Financial Times & Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award for his work: CHINA SHAKES THE WORLD, (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, publisher). He picked up the award and the 30,000 pound prize

For Heaven's Sake, Stop the Olympic Flame by Europe & UsNow, this is getting really weird. The Olympic flame is crossing the world and everywhere, it needs to be protected from protesters who do not wish to support these Olympic Games in a country which is oppressing Tibet and systematically violati

Diametrically Different: Dragons East & West by Valerie Sartor To begin to grasp the extreme differences in culture and thought between China and the western world one of the most startling distinctions can be found by examining the universal dragon motif. This ancient symbol ha

The Heavenly Stone by Valerie Sartor“Why are the Chinese putting jade onto the Olympic medals?” I asked my colleague Wu Nanlan as we sat in a weekly planning meeting. Raising her elegant eyebrows she gaped at me in surprise. “Haven’t you

Free Tibet by Standing Up for Tibet by Linda LaneSomehow, this series of images reminded me of what Tibet would feel like as a free place, with freedom of speech and religion, sort of floating up into the blue like a sky flower.

Paper Tiger by Valerie SartorI am a woman who is easily duped. Moving to Beijing drilled this character defect into me after months of being tricked, cheated and laughed at by my Chinese landlord. It all started when I came to Beijing, China's capital city, late last sum

China's Forbidden Fruit by Valerie SartorLast week I stopped at a very traditional looking teashop, hoping to buy some good Chinese tea for Jane, my friend Michael's wife, before flying to Santa Fe to visit my friends. Jane loves tea; she never drinks coffee. The quaint looking store

Peace and ecommerce by Linda Lane"In his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas L. Friedman proposed The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention, observing that no two countries with a McDonald's franchise had ever gone to war with one another, a version of th

On China's China by Valerie SartorPorcelain is a type of ceramic ware that western people call “china” or “chinaware” because potters first created it for the emperor in south central China where a special type of clay is found.

The IT Tsunami Wave rolls into China by Valerie SartorCyrill Eltschinger, celebrated author of Source Code China (2007, John Wiley and Sons), arrived on the Chinese mainland in late 1994, working for a subsidiary of GM after being based in Singapore, the business hub of the Pacific Rim at

Outrageous Happenings in Tibet: Boycott the Olympics by Alexandra PereiraEvery citizen of the supposedly democratic western and eastern, northern and southern countries should not only be shocked, but also show his/her repulsion towards the recent happenings in Lhasa and the almost 60-year-old occupation of Tibet by China,

China's Copycat Economics by Valerie SartorNorth American factory workers are fuming as China taps into more and more industries, almost effortlessly gaining the market share majority. “They copy us and sell cheaper!” irate laid-off American workers shout. But China experience

Feng Shui and Celestial Creatures by Valerie Sartor From time immemorial Chinese culture has been loaded with symbols. They range from auspicious numbers, ancient Chinese characters and pictographs, colors and coins, dates and times - to animals, both f

The Tao of Silk by Valerie SartorChina’s most ancient gift to the world: silk, arrived long before gunpowder, paper and printmaking. This coveted fabric predated Christ and Buddha. Durable, useful and elegant, it is one of the oldest fibers known to man. Production remaine

Aggression in China by Valerie Sartor“The police said it was a good thing I slept through it,” my Irish friend Daragh in Beijing reported, “Otherwise the robbers might have killed me. It’s quite common in large Chinese cities, actually.”

Growing Pains by Valerie SartorAs China continues to enter the global arena many Western nations have questioned many of the country's policies and actions. Some countries consider China as a threat, a lone bully and/or an economic wildcard. To begin to understand the mo

E.T phone China by Thanos KalamidasThe involvement of celebrities in major international issues often makes me feel suspicious and sceptical but, as I have often written, if it helps to highlight these issues and make more people aware of them, then well done and it doesn’t m

Black Market Bodies by Valerie Sartor China's account of prostitution, like her history, is long and venerable. Imperial Chinese concubines and courtesans evolved during Victorian times into Shanghai's famous "flower girls". These histo

The Cycle of Time: The Chinese New Year by Rene WadlowTalk of the Year ahead and the devil laughs”- Chinese proverb
This 7 February marks the start of the New Year in China. The start of a New Year is

Economic Yin & Yang by Valerie SartorIn August 2007 Chinese news reported that the Beijing Chidong Culture and Media Company began a lawsuit against a Japanese TV station. Apparently SKYperfecTV on Channel 785 broadcast their Japanese production of the Chinese TV series Ku Cai Hu

Eyes on Asia by Valerie SartorWhen the western world looks at Asia most people, particularly Americans, focus their gaze on China. Rightly so: the country has made remarkable economic strides, with average annual growth rates in excess of 9 per cent over the past two decades.

China and Food: Gobbling up the Goodies by Valerie SartorEverything in China is in a state of transition. The Chinese government is enacting new legislation; people are migrating to better jobs; young people soaking up western culture via the Internet and family dynamics are evolving into new patterns.

China & Food: The Tao of Food by Valerie SartorIt's no secret that the Chinese have always cherished exquisitely prepared, thoughtfully presented and delicious food. In China business has long been conducted over banquet tables and every Chinese friend will tell foreigners that no meeti

China & Food: Vegetarian Diplomacy by Valerie Sartor In recent years foreign media has been praising China for opening to the West and stimulating the world economy but actually the country has been going global for centuries. This process has impacted upon all level

Like an insurance salesman by Thanos KalamidasWould you ever expect a nation to have a party because an insurance salesman made a deal of 3000 euros a year? I imagine not, I doubt if the insurance company would make a party with an insurance contract like that. They might have if it was a con

East Asian artists wanted by The Ovi Team LONDON’S FAMOUS CHINATOWN CALLS FOR EAST ASIAN ARTISTS AS PUBLIC ART SCULPTURE COMMISSION ANNOUNCED As part of the Chinatown Arts Festival 2008: Five Circles, London based arts organisation Chin

Chinese toying with the Olympics by Thanos KalamidasAnother blow for Chinese toys manufactures was the latest news from the USA and Australia with the recall of millions of toys due to a drug contained in the coating of the toys. I decided to check in my daughter’s room, not to make sure what

Chinese executional tricks by Thanos KalamidasAs we get closer to the Olympic Games year criticism is coming more often about different things, therefore Peking had to do something, even if that something is just for show. The Chinese Supreme Court has ordered judges to be more …sparing

Proposal for reducing air pollution by William EdoAir pollution is a threat to human health and to the ecosystem. It results in global warming, the greenhouse effect, ocean acidification and respiratory diseases that can sometimes can lead to human death. There are a few steps men can do to re

E.T. call home by Thanos KalamidasI was browsing through the news when I noticed that China had launched a new missile that destroys satellites. So they successfully tested it with an old Chinese satellite 800 kilometers somewhere above the earth and then warned all the other spac

It's a wonderful life! by F. A. Hutchison I'm sad tonight, but why...? I think tired is a better description, as is emotionally drained! Physical exertion is nothing compared to emotional 'exertion!

70 years after the Long March by Amin George ForjiOn Sunday 22nd October, China commemorated the 70th anniversary of one of the most significant days in their contemporary history - the Victory of the Long March, traditionally considered the turning point of the famou

My first Chinese orgasm by F. A. HutchisonI heard my first Chinese orgasm the other night (or morning)! I think it was something like 0430 B.T. (Beijing Time), although the Chinese are late uppers!It was the female partner, as men only snore in China! How do I know

Mao thirty years after by Thanos KalamidasThe year 2006, among others internationally, has become important for China. It marks thirty years since the death of Mao Zedong, thirty years without the man that connected his life with the future of this great Asian

Tarja Halonen and the ASEM by Thanos Kalamidas The Finnish president Tarja Halonen made me proud to be living in Finland with her remarks on human rights issues during her opening speech for the Europe Asian summit ASEM in Helsinki, Finland. I have to admit that

Chinese-English Problem by F. A. Hutchison"When a 'foreigner' uses a computer in China-it better 'speak' Chinese!"If you think using a computer is challenging in your own language, you should try using one in another language, like Chinese! This has b

Do you have a condom? by F. A. HutchisonI've come across something cute in the 'Lonely Planet's, Mandarin Praise Book.' I now know how to say the following in Chinese, in case I should need:"Do you have a condom?""Let's

$1 million lesson! by F. A. HutchisonA recent title to an editorial in 'China Daily,' probably the most widely read English-speaking publication in China: 'As we get wealthier, do we get happier?' I read the editorial (in the February 11-12th edi

The True Meaning by F. A. HutchisonIsn’t it interesting how questions go unanswered for years, if answered at all? But, it seems to me that questions are always more important than answers anyway! Take for example one question which was asked of me at the Hindu Vi